Marco Polo Tower

Situated directly on the Elbe in Hamburg’s HafenCity, the Marco Polo Tower rises beside the Unilever headquarters, also designed by Behnisch Architekten. At 55 meters tall, the tower marks the end of the avenue leading from the city center to major waterfront destinations, including the Cruise Ship Terminal and Strandkai Promenade. With its sculptural, dynamic form and commanding position, the tower makes a striking addition to Hamburg’s skyline.

Its 17 above-ground floors are each slightly rotated, giving all 58 apartments panoramic views of the harbor and city. Apartments range from 60 to 340 square meters and feature generous balconies that extend living areas outdoors. No two apartments or floors are alike, a variation that is expressed in the building’s asymmetrical form. Highly flexible layouts allow for apartment combinations, with options from compact two-room units to expansive maisonette-style penthouses. Minimal fixed services and structural elements give residents freedom to define their spaces, all with floor-to-ceiling glass offering sweeping views.

The balconies’ playful design and alternating opaque and transparent balustrades accentuate the tower’s dynamic form while providing outdoor living qualities uncommon at such heights—an urban take on the traditional residence with a garden. Environmentally, the building integrates passive and active systems: recessed facades shaded by overhanging terraces and balconies reduce solar gain, roof-mounted vacuum collectors cool the interiors via heat exchange, and sound-insulated air louvres allow for natural ventilation without noise intrusion.

Commercial spaces on the ground and first floors activate the public realm, animating the building’s base. Inside the multi-story lobby, visitors are greeted warmly by a concierge. Here, natural materials—wood, leather, and matte finishes—create a refined, inviting atmosphere, with ash slats visually connecting the lobby’s levels.